Harry, that's an excellent question and unfortunately I don't have the answer.

After this AMA, I am going to go speak to Tom, our traffic manager, and see if we can make a change! Thank you for bringing that to our attention! Hopefully, we'll be able to do this for you in the future!

Regarding the basic difference of our stores and GC, there are two aspects:

1) The 5th Dimension a.k.a. sheet music, brass, woodwinds, and orchestral. This defines us as more of a cradle to grave type company, meaning that since many musicians start off with saxophones, trumpets, violins, and so on, they get to start off with Sam Ash Music at a much earlier age.

2) The average associate on a Sam Ash floor has been with the company longer than the average associate has with Guitar Center. That goes from operations to senior management to the executives.

Sorry but we don't hire managers. Instead, we start with the guys on the floor and if they've got a glimmer in their eye and a smile on their face, we groom them for management. All of our managers are homegrown. Even our higher-ups, including myself, started at the bottom rung of the ladder!

My grandfather (also named Sam) started this company in 1924 with a small literal mom-and-pop shop in Brooklyn. He was a violinist that couldn't support his family as a musician alone. He opened a store with my grandmother Rose. When he passed away, the company was primarily being run by my father Jerry and my uncle Paul. As much as we didn't want to enter into the business (at first), we eventually felt drawn to this business. Over the years, thanks to the help of my father and uncle, we branched out our business in the Tri-State area and eventually built more stores after myself and my two brothers joined the company.

Now the company is run by the third generation [myself and two brothers] and fourth generation [my two sons Ben and Max and my brother's two sons Adam and Derek]. That, and the fact of the incredible people we have worked with for the past 20, 30 and 40 years. In other words, our extended family.

As for music running in the family, for whatever reason, it skipped a generation after my grandfather. Myself and my brother inherited my grandfathers talent and my sons Ben and Max are also very gifted musically as well.

First off, as disappointing as it is to say, offsets don't sell as well as Strats and Teles so we don't stock as many. As far as your specific predicament, it sounds like we sold out of them in the nearest store and Fender was waiting to release newer versions of offset models for us to stock in our stores.

It is SO MUCH easier nowadays! When I was a kid, you had to buy a multi-track recorder or rent studio time, gather a bunch of musicians and gear, write a bunch of songs, play them well, record, etc. etc. etc.

Today, nearly everyone has a computer. Therefore, nearly everyone has the ability to do desktop recording. You can sit in your underwear and crank out a hit without having to leave your bedroom.

I LOVE USED GEAR and not just because I'm the head of that department in my company!

People would always like an alternative to new gear just like they do in the car market. A quality, used instrument is a great choice to a new instrument that is on average 40% higher in price. I think Reverb did a great job taking the mantle of this part of the business. After all, we are a Reverb client! However, 95% of all our used gear is still sold within our stores!

What do you see as the future of "mid-range" guitars? The low-end has gotten way better thanks to ubiquitous CNS, and the high-end has gotten....more expensive. What about in the middle, say the $1500ish price range?

Keep in mind, I'm old enough to see that 1500-ish was "high range". Basically, 1500-ish American made guitars are really Stratocasters. Gibson is now back in that price range for 2016 and they're both fighting for territory. Fender is making (in my humble opinion) the best Strats they've ever made since 1965. At this price point, finding a quality American instrument for a reasonable price is very, very easy.

From what I see the Made in Korea instruments are really hitting it out of the park right now...e.g. Reverend and the neck-thru Schecters.

You knocked it out of the park! Korea IS making the finest instruments since they've been involved with guitar production. What happened was their capacity was moved to China so to compete, they had to make a better product.

Also: How big of a deal do you see extended-range guitars being going into the future? 7s seem practically mainstream, and 8s and 9s are coming onto the market.

I wouldn't call 7's "mainstream" just yet. Heck, at one time I didn't call 5-string basses "mainstream" either and now you can't walk around without stepping on one! Regarding 8's and 9's, they're incredibly interesting but in terms of sales they've not captured the markets imagination (yet).

Ency, it's worth the trip! I've been to England and I have friends in the music business from there. However, they do not have music stores like we have here. They're cool and vibey but due to the fact that most instruments (especially guitars) are American products, they just don't have the access.

I think 3D printed music gear is an interesting concept. Regarding custom-made instruments and digital amp simulators, I do feel will be for at least (for the near future) niche items. In my opinion, nothing will replace the Fender Deluxe Reverb or the Marshal JCM-800.

Lately, I have rekindled my deep affection for the Les Paul. Specifically, my '58 reissue I've had for the past 20 years. As far as the problem your friends face, I'm sorry to say I can't relate. I've been working with and surrounded by guitars for a majority of my life and I still get excited to run home and play guitar (after I kiss my wife "hello", of course) ;P

For those who don't know, GAS is an acronym for Guitar Acquisition Syndrome. My lord! I suffer greatly from GAS! There is no pill to cure my ill (nor am I looking for one)!

I never sell or trade my guitars (to my wife's dismay) which is why I've topped the 150 mark. Don't ask me where I put them; they're all over the map. I want them all too, though I will never have them all. Granted, I'm in the position to keep my addiction going!